Brian and Dana sat on the chairs just outside Ford’s room while Cayson stitched him up. The man had been home, relaxing, when Quick asked him to rush back to the hospital. No one worked on them but Cayson. Brian tilted his head back against the wall and swallowed roughly. He could feel his best friend beside him, his leg bouncing annoyingly.

When it seemed Dana couldn’t hold his tongue a moment longer he asked cautiously, “You good, B?”

Brian didn’t open his eyes. He had to somehow process what’d just happened and how it had happened. He wasn’t sure he fully understood it yet. He’d spoken—no, he’d yelled. Brian had felt it and he could remember, now that his heart had returned to its normal resting rhythm. Dana nudged him, and Brian leaned towards him, his eyes still closed. The lighting was harsh and messing with his throbbing head. His ankle felt tight in his boot from the overexertion. The ringing in his ears had subsided, now a dull ache resided in the left one. At least that goddamn rocket launcher hadn’t burst his eardrum.

“I’m good,” Brian signed heavily.

“You’re signing?” Dana said sounding confused and a little sad.

Brian slumped even lower. “My head hurts, Dana. Be quiet.”

“But… but you are going to talk now, right? Did you hear yourself? You were loud, B… you sounded like him,” Dana thumbed over his shoulder. “…like your brother.”

Brian opened his eyes and glared. “Will you please be quiet?” Dana was like a brother, but right now, he was more like a nagging little brother, yapping excitedly in his ear.

Dana was silent only a beat, leg bouncing, then turned again, “You gonna tell Sway?”

Brian got up, intent on taking a walk outside, when Dr. Chauncey pulled back Ford’s curtain. “Hey, Brian where you going? I want to check you out, too. You took a bad fall.”

“I’m fine.” Brian said, before the good doctor could go much further. “I landed on someone, not the ground. I’m good.”

Cayson smiled in that open, comforting way of his that made it almost impossible for any of them to refuse him. He clutched his brother’s chart to his chest and rubbed his neat, blond stubble, “I don’t know exactly what you just signed, my fluency in ASL is nonexistent, but it looks like you said, ‘sure, Cayson. Since you turned off a very gripping episode of Married at First Sight, abandoned your freshly popped bowl of popcorn and rushed back to work just for me and my brother; I am glad to go on behind this curtain and let you check me out. I mean… since you went through so much trouble and all.”

Brian barked a laugh at the same time he heard the exact same sound from behind the curtain. Brian’s head dropped to his chin. He did fuckin’ sound just like Ford. The voice Brian spoke in wasn’t what he remembered. His command was always powerful, however now his voice was raspier, grittier, just like his big brother’s… and that was all right.

Dana stepped inside, now that Ford was all patched up to kiss and make it better.

Cayson stood with his hand out, gesturing for Brian to follow, his bright blue eyes sparkling with his amazing sense of humor. They all agreed Quick was a lucky man, and it was common practice to rib him that he wasn’t worthy of the physician. But, Cayson was family. He loved all of them, and cared for them, not just Quick.

Brian walked into his brother’s room and sat in one of the chairs. “It looked like I said all that?”

Cayson shrugged after Dana translated what he’d said. The doc could care less what tactics he used on them to get them to comply; as long as the end result was what he wanted. None of them made cooperative patients. So, thank goodness, the exam was quick. The fall hadn’t done much damage—that was why they wore leather, his arms were good. His head still ached, so Cayson asked Brian several questions to determine if he had a concussion. Only after Brian agreed to see the hospital’s ENT about his ear and Cayson made the appointment through the hospital’s system, did he tell Brian he was good to go.

Ford translated everything he said, watching Brian closely. Was he wondering why Brian was signing again? Wondering why he wasn’t using his voice when it was clearly working. Fact of the matter was, he was scared to try to speak… and then… nothing. Since they’d left the parking lot in a mess of hotel security, executives, police, fireman, news crews and countless gawkers, Brian hadn’t even attempted to speak. It wasn’t important. His brother was alive. He’d wanted to stay in Ford’s presence a little while longer, so he’d come with him to the hospital. Cayson informed them early on that the bullet had only grazed him, but it still took a good chunk of flesh. The X-rays showed no muscle damage, but the wound would be healing for weeks and some physical therapy for range might be needed.

“Guys, let me talk to my brother alone.”

Dana and Cayson both left without argument, leaving Brian sitting there with his brother’s piercing look. Ford was propped up, his upper arm heavily bandaged and immobile, the other hand, he pointed at Brian.

“Talk,” Ford growled at him. His order not one to be disobeyed.

Brian clenched his teeth. He fuckin’ knew it! He went to put his hands up but Ford’s growl was so frightening and barely controlled, Brian slammed his hands back down. He worked his throat. Fuck. What if it don’t come out?

“Don’t be afraid of it. Take it just like you did in that parking lot,” Ford demanded. Even in a hospital bed he was ten feet tall and impressive. “Don’t be afraid!”

“I’m not afraid!” Brian signed angrily, his hands slapping together.

“I didn’t hear that!” Ford bellowed. “If you’re not afraid then, talk!”

“NO!” Brian roared in his brother’s face, releasing all the air he’d pulled into his diaphragm.

Ford startled, the back of his head hitting his pillow. Brian jerked away, clutching his throat. The vibration was intense, almost too much to take. His head pounded, and excruciating pain seared behind his left eye. Yelling hadn’t been a good idea, but Brian couldn’t beat himself up for making his ears and headache worse. The unknown was over. It hadn’t been a fluke. His voice had returned. And, just like Colton had promised him, it’d returned when Brian needed it the most. He turned to look at his brother.

“Ford,” Brian croaked.

Ford curved one side of his mouth, his eyes instantly brimming with tears then flowing over. His face was a mask of pride and perseverance. “I’ve waited almost six damn years to hear you say that,” Ford replied, his voice thick with emotion.

Brian hadn’t cried in years, and now he couldn’t seem to turn it off. They let their tears fall silently as Brian leaned in and held his brother. They’d made it. Since they were kids they’d fought together and had beat all obstacles that’d been placed in front of them. From that damn depressing farm they were raised on, to their spineless mom who’d left for greener pastures, to their abusive father; they stayed fighters. When the war had tried to claim Brian, Ford had known he was still alive and he’d never given up. They’d never abandoned each other, emerging on the other side as warriors. They’d promised that they’d always be there for each other and that was a promise that was as unbreakable as their bond.

Cayson peeked inside the curtain. “Everything okay in here? I held off security but, um...”

“We’re good,” Ford said, letting Brian up. They wiped their eyes, neither of them embarrassed.

After Brian reluctantly accepted the two pain reliever tablets, Cayson let him go. All he needed now was air. About fifteen minutes worth… then he needed Sway. Ford was the most important person in his life, and that was how it had always been. But there was room for another. It was the only piece of the puzzle missing. He hadn’t heard from Sway all day, his last text had been last night. And all he’d said was ‘goodnight. Miss you.’

Brian walked towards Cayson. He inhaled then asked in the gravelliest tone he’d ever heard, “Sway?”

Cayson’s eyes widened, then he looked back and forth between him and Dana. “It’s good to hear your voice, Brian. God, you guys are so damn amazing,” Cayson said softly.

Brian tried to manage a smile, but he’d thank Cayson later, right now, he wanted answers. “Up.” Brian pointed to the upper floors where Sway worked. He realized he was sticking to one syllable words, getting used to the unusual tickling sensation in his throat.

Cayson frowned. “No. I sent Sway home yesterday. He was really sick.”

“What?” Brian ground out.

“You didn’t know?” Cayson went over to Ford’s IV and pushed the morphine pump before Ford could protest. Cayson ignored the grumbles, continuing to talk to Brian, “there’s a nasty bug going around the hospital, and I’m afraid Sway caught it. Oh, he was so upset. I have another charge nurse filling in for him. You know he doesn’t like anyone else being responsible for his patients.”

“Squirt is sick?” Dana said appearing just as confused as Brian. “That little shit. He does this. He can take care of other people all day, but won’t let anyone take care of him.”

Well, that was no longer the case. “No,” Brian said. He squeezed his brother’s shoulder, silently telling him he’d check in on him later, and left out the room.

Dana yelled. “Lay his sneaky ass out for me too, B!” just as Cayson scolded him about not being in a damn football stadium. Then the last thing he heard before the ER doors opened, was his brother grumble, “I’m going to sleep.”

Brian stepped out into the cool night air and breathed deeply. He had his brother, he had his team… he had his voice back. Now, he was going to get the rest of his life.

“Sway,” Brian said it again, but it sounded no smoother than before. He hoped Sway liked it gritty and raw.